billion

the world
has over seven billion people

over seven billion smiles

over seven billion hearts

over seven billion dreams

but only one smile is yours
though you have two hearts

your own and mine

and together we dream

over seven billion dreams

just us two
out of over seven billion

grift

caught fish in a net
so too the gullible
in the grift are ground
chum for bigger sharks

avuncular

dressed in sky blue windbreaker
he dragged on a filterless cigarette
with avuncular aplomb
dispensing wisdom and disdain
in equal measure and we would
hang on every word and treasure
his curmudgeonly advice
repeated once, repeated twice

impetus

sometimes
the impetus
to comes not
from within
but without
with screaming &
with shouts & bouts
of rage & shame
for letting things
go on so long
sometimes that's how
we embrace change

sequester

yesterday,
in the mail,
I received
a summons
for jury duty.
today’s word
is sequester.
life is funny.

chockablock

possibility stirs the pot
swirls together all
the joy and ginger
tenderness and trial
love and labor of life
fills one up chockablock
from top to toe until
we overflow

minion

you think them
your minions
but beware
when they rebel
oh the stories
they can tell
cross them
if you dare